merrick



F. W. MERRICK.

LASTING MACHINE; APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1916.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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(QM; Worne? F. W. MERRICK LASTING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED APR.24.19I6.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fnvenar- J/L Qwvs Zfla'tnesseak fW UNITED STATES P TENrQHE CEJ FRANK w. MERRICK, or sosron, Massiicnnsnr'rs, ASSIGNOR 'ro UNION LooK sTI'roH COMPANY, or escrow, nesseonusnrrs, a oonroaerlon or MAINE.

L'AsTING-MA HINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W; MnRRIoK, a'citizen of the United States, residing'at Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of- Massachusetts, have invented a certaln new and useful Improvement in Lastlng-Ma-' chines, of which the following is' a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has relation to grippermechanisms such as are employed'ln operating upon leather and the like, more particularly in the processes of boot and shoe manufacture. Also, to the combinations of which gripper-mechanisms constitute elements in pulling-over-machines 'and other machines employed in performing or furthermg lasting.

g is "not needed.

Stated in general terms, the. invention comprises improved gripper-mechanism in whichv pulling-over or other clamps or grippersfare actuated by fluid-pressure so as toc lose them upon a piece of leather, as for I prefer to employ an in some, instances in which resilientaction The nvention comprises, also, mprovements in the mode and means of mounting the gripper-devices of gripper-mechanlsms such as aforesald. A convenlent illustratlve embodlment of the various features of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which latter,

Figure 1 shows in elevation opposite sets of pulling-over gripper-devices including fluid-pressure actuating means, and in connection with the said gripper-devices a lastsupport, a last with certain parts of a shoe thereon, and a device constituting a depressor and hold-down. V

' Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts which in Fig. 1 are represented below the plane indicated by the dotted line 2, 2, inthe latter figure.

The illustrative embodiment aforesaid is adapted for employment. for pulling-over purposes .in connection with lasting ma-: chines on the order of that shown and de= scribedv in Letters vPatent .No. 1,245,117,

granted under date of October 30, 1917,

Specification of Lettcrs ratent.

Application filed Apri 24, 1916. Serial No. 93,049.

f Patented D co.

upon my application therefor filed April 28,

1913,Serial No. 764,005. 1 The depressor aridhold-dow1i 1 with its downwardly projecting pins 1, 1,'fas also the support or mounting 2 for the last'3'to .which the upper 4 and insole 5 of a'shoe are applied, are or may be constructed, farvranged, andcombined with associated parts and devices to operate in practice substantial-ly as in the case of corresponding-parts in my Letters Patent aforesaid. Briefly stated, the last-support 2 is yieldingly supported vertically, and the "depressor and hold-down 1 is mounted with capacity for vertical movement so as to enable it to be moved downward from the elevated position which it normally occupies, so as in'its descent to carry the ends ofthe pins 1*, 1*, into contact with the insole 5 that has been appliedto the bottom Ofthe last 3, and by thecontinued descent press the last and last-support downward.;, The

said depressor andhold-down has combined therewith actuating mechanism and" eontrolling devices by means vof which at the" will of the, operator, it is; actuated vertically and is'caused to descend, or to rise again, or p to dwell either. at an intermediate. point'in its descent or ascent, or' in the lowest position, or in upwardly retracted position. Depression of the last and last-support carries the last and the upper thereon downward relative to the pulling-over grippers ,6, 7 6, 7, etc. In practice, prior. to the depression of the last and last-support, the

margins of'the upper are to be engaged as shown in Figs. J1 and 2 of the drawings hereofby-the said grippers, so that in" con sequence of the said margins beingengaged and held by the grippers the'depression of the last relative to the grippers will strain and stretch the upper around thelast.

As indicated at theoutset herein, the first portion of the invention is concerned more particularly with means for automatically closing the grippers upon the leather and keeping them closed, so as to maintain their hold upon the engaged portions of the leather while the upper is beingpulled into position about the last.

The specific construction of thejgrippers themselves, and

their more immediate mechanical connections, and the means and manner of mountng the grippers, may j vary 1n DIaCtT.I: Herein the gripper-niembers' (i, 6,. they having downwardly extending jaw portions,

I, are provided upon the inwardly-extending upper extremities of upstanding arms 6 6-,

located at opposite sides of the last-support.

- convenient working relations with those of the gripper-members 6, 6. For the purpose of transmitting the required movements to the gripper-members 7, 7, the latter are provided with outwardly-extending arms which have connected pivotally to the same at 7*, 7 the upper ends of links or connectingrods 7", 7, which last at their lower ends are connected pivotally at 7 7, to operating levers 7 7 The said levers are mounted pivotally at 7, 7, upon the lower portions of the arms 6 WVhen movement is given to the respective levers 7 7 through power applied thereto, the movable gripper-memhere 7', 7, of the respective pairs of grippers are operated to open and close. The power by which the grippers are held normally in open condition, and b which the opening of the grippers from t eir closed condition I is effected when such'opening is'permitted, is applied by means of contracting spiral springs 8, 8, each connected at one end, as at 8*, to an operating lever 7 and connected at the other end, as at 8-", to a convenient portion of one of the fixed arms 6. Normally, the movable jaws of the grippermembers 7, 7 are held separated from the jaws of the stationary gripper-members 6,

6, by the tension of the said springs. In-

carrying the first portion of the invention into effect, the efiect of the fluid-pressure is transmitted to the operating levers 7 7 to close the grippers upon the portions of leather with which they are to engage, and keep them closed thereon.

The fluid pressure gripper operating means comprises essentially a cylinder 9 and contained piston 10 for each clamp or pair of gripper-members. An outward pro ection 10 from the piston 10 engages with the operating lever 7 of the corresponding pair of gripper-members, so that when the piston is moved in one direction, by pressure of the pressure-applying-medium that is admitted to the cylinder, the said operating lever 7 is swung in the direction to transunit a closing movement to the movable gripper-member of the said pair of grippers, and the grippers are held closed so long as the pressure is maintained within the cylinder. Tubes or pipes for conveying the pressure-transmittingmedium to the cylinders are shown at 11, 11. Manually-controlled valve-devices (not shown are employed in practice for controlling t e pressure within the respective cylinders.

Preferably, compressed air is employed as a pressure-transmitting-medium, although steam or gas may be employed. All three, namely, compressed air, steam, or gas, give an elastic action. In some cases in which elastic action is not required I may utilize oil or other liquid.

The means of controlling the application of pressure at the will of the operator may vary. The valves for that purpose may be of any approved character, and be arranged and operated as may be found most convenient in practice.

In the use of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, after the last 3 has been inserted into the upper 4 that is to be lasted thereon, and after the necessary preliminary adjustments have been made, the upstanding margins of the upper are placed between the jaws of the respective pairs of grippers, and then, by admitting the pressure into the cylinders the grippers are closed upon the said margins. While the grippers are thus closed upon and holding the upstanding margins of the upper, the depressor and hold-down 1 is caused to move downward so that its downwardly-extendingpins 1, 1 take bearing against the sole of the last, or against the insole 5 applied to the last. By the continued descent of the depressor and hold-down the last and last-support are pressed downward so that the last is pressed down within the upper and the latter stretched and pulled into position about the last. In the drawings, the grippers are shown engaged with the upper at opposite points in connection with the waist of the last and shoe, and also at opposite points in connection with the forepa-rts of the last and shoe. The number of grippers and the location thereof may vary in practice as desired or found necessary.

One feature of the invention consists in mounting the respective pairs of grippers with capacity to swivel transversely upon vertical axes, so that the jaws of a pair may conform their position to the direction in which the adjacent portion of the last-margin extends. This capacity is secured by supporting the arms 6 in manner permitting them to turn upon the said vertical axes. For convenience in construction and in providing for maintaining working relations between the pressure-devices and the transmitting levers 7 the pressure-cylinders 9 are mounted to turn transversely in unison with arms 6. Conjoint turning movement of a pair of grippers, its supporting arm, and the corresponding pressure-devices, is provided for in the illustrative embodiment by afiixing the base of the supporting-arm 6 by means of a bolt 6 to a lug l0 rising from the top of the cylinder .10, and combining the cylinder-base 10 with the fixed support 10" by means of a vertical pivot 10 This pivot permits the cylinder, arm, and pair of grippers to swivel horigripper- Jaws to be located at the'desiredherght.

mach cylinder is mounted by means of a horizontal pivot 10 upon its base 10. This pivot. enables the corresponding pair of grippers to be swung toward and away from the position of the last-support and last.

This capacity for inward and outward swinging movement enables the grippers to be swung back entirely away from and clear of the last-support and last, when desired,- and to be swung inward toward the last into proper position for engagement with the different portions of the upstanding margin of the upper.

A further feature of invention relative to the'pulling-over grippers so that the upper is caused to fit the last, the said grippers are made to draw the side portions of the upper by an automatic action snugly inward against and around the sides of the distance beyond the last-support and lastateither side of these latter, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the grippers swing'upon aXes set out or outstanding beyond the last, at opposite sides of the latter. The'upper portions of the gripper-supporting arms 6 6 eX-.

tend inwardly toward the last-support and last so that the grippers overhang inwardly relative to the said pivotal-axes. The result in operation is that asthe last is caused to descend the downward pull of the side-portions of the upper uponthe grippers acts with a tendency to swing the grippers inwardly above the last, so as to carry the said side-portions inward toward the middle line of the last asin Fig. 1. 1

As described herein with reference to the drawings, the relative movement by which the pulling-over action is produced is due to vertical shift of the last and last-support. Except as hereinafter indicated otherwise in the claims it'is equally adapted to be secured by shift of the gripper-mechanism.

Pneuma-tically-operated clamps o-r gripconsists in l a provision whereby as the last is depressed holda thin piece, and if; set to hold a thin piece will tear or crush a thick piece- Hence the results'will be unsatisfactory or injurious in the case-of varlations thickness. The results are.- objectionable with a spring-op erated clamp or pair of grippers also; with an increase in. the thickness of the materlal grasped, the gripper-members or jaws'g'rip or bite with greater tension with a likelihood of injury. lVith pneumatically-operated devices, the pressure upon. the material between the aws or gripping members merely corresponds. with the fiuidspressure within the cylinder, and hence injurious results do not follow when an increase of thickness of .80

material is presented,v and an effective hold will always be taken notwithstanding a smaller thickness pf material is grasped. The importance-of :the invention resides largely in the'factthat leather constantly varies in thickness, consistency, and resiliency. Some leather is soft and tough; some is hard and brittle; some is dead and inert;

There can be only one'properrelation; there can be only one thickness. and consistency of leather upon which any given setting ofthe spring will be satisfactory. 'H'ence, with material constantly varying, as occurs in practice, entirely satisfactory results cannot be attained when spring-tension is 'depended upon.

With a' pneumatically-op erated clamp or pair of grippers the pressure of the jaws upon the material being operated upon, whatever may be the thickness of such material, always is equal to the pressure within the operating cylinder, and

never is greater nor less.

What is claimed as the invention is,

l. Pulling-over mechanism comprising a pair of rippers adapted to receive between them and to engage with a margin of a shoe upper, a support for the said pair of grippers, a removably-mounted last-support, and means for producing movement of thesaid last-support relative-to the said pair of grippers to effect pulling-over, said pers having combined therewithflnid-pressure means for closingthem upon the Said margin.

. 2. Pulling-over mechanism comprising a 7 pair of grippers adapted to receive between them and to engage with a margin of a shoe upper, a support for the said pair of grippers, a movably-mounted last-support, and

pair of grlpmeans for producing movement of the said 1 last-support relatlve to the sa1d pan of grippers to effect pulling-over, said pair of grippers having comblned therewith pneumatic means tor closing them upon the said mar- 3. In pulling-over mechanism, the combination comprising a last-support, a pullingover clamp or pairof grlppers, a support for said clamp or pair of grippers adapted to swivel upon a vertical axis to permit the.

position of the clamp-jaws or gripper-members to correspond with the direction of the 7 adjacent portion of the side of the last, and

side-portions oi the upper inward toward the middle line of the last, and fluid-pressure means for closing the clamp or pair of grippers and keeping the same closed.

l. In pulling-over mechanism, the combi nation comprising a last-support, a pullingover clamp or pair of grippers, a support for said clamp or pair of grippers adapted to swivel upon a vertical axis to permit the position of the clamp-jaws or gripper-mem- )QlS to correspond with the direction of the adjacent portion of the side of the last, and also mounted to swing transversely relative to the last upon a pivotal axis which is set out or outstanding beyond the last, the said grippers overhanging inwardly relative to said pivotal axis, and adapted to be swung inwardlyiby the pull of theupper during the pulling-over action so as to carry the side-portions of the upper inward toward the middle line of the last, and fluid-pressure means for closing the clamp or pair of grippers and keeplng the same closed, 1ncluding a pressure-cylinder mounted upon the said support for the clamp or pair of grippers.

5. In pulling-over mechanism, the combination comprising a last-support,-and pulling-over grippers mounted to swing transversely upon pivotal axes which are set out or outstanding beyond the last, the said:

grippers overhanging inwardly relative to the said pivotal axes and swung inwardly by the pull of the upper during the pullingover action so as to carry the side-portions of the upper inward toward the middle line of the last, and the last-support and the grippers arranged for relative vertical movement to effect pulling-over.

6. In pulling-over mechanism, the combination comprising a last-support, pulling over grippers, and gripper-supports swinging transversely upon pivotal axes which are set out or outstanding beyond the last having gripper-supporting arms extending inwardly toward the last-support and last FRANK W. MERRICK,

Witnesses:

CHAS. F. RANDALL. ELLEN O. SPRING-f Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,324,403.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,324,403, granted December 9,

19l9, up0n the application of Frank W. Merrick, of Boston, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Lasting-Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiringcorrection as follows: Page 3, line 119, claim 1, for the compound Word removably-mountec read mommy-mounted; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of January, A. 1)., 1920.

M. H. COULSTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

